Changes

==Social structure in a domestic setting==

==Social structure in a domestic setting==

In a domestic context, groups are formed by the successive introduction of unrelated individuals by the owner. There is no function for the group, and there may be a mix of breeds, age,  sex and personality traits (such as sociability).

In a domestic context, groups are formed by the successive introduction of unrelated individuals by the owner. There is no function for the group, and there may be a mix of breeds, age,  sex and personality traits (such as sociability). New cats may be introduced when the resident cats are in middle age; a time when their sociability may be reduced. This creates an artificial social setting in which individuals that would, in a wild or feral context, be unlikely to form a social group, are brought together. In a domestic setting, conflict and tension become increasingly likely as group size increases, or resources need to be shared. Lacking a functional social structure that incorporates all individuals, with domestic cat groups characteristic individual group and individual behaviour can become apparent:

This creates an artificial social structure in which individuals that would, in a wild or feral context, not choose to form a social group are brought together   can contain several types of individuals and sub-groups:

'''Cliques or Factions''': groups or 3 or more cats that show greeting and other affiliative behaviour towards each other, but may be aggressive to other members of the domestic group.

'''Cliques or Factions''': groups or 3 or more cats that show greeting and other affiliative behaviour towards each other, but may be aggressive to other members of the domestic group.